Card stop for textile machines



Sept. 10, 1963 A. DUQUETTE CARD STOP FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Original FiledJune 10, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet l R 0 m E v m e m u W m M A Sept. 10, 1963A. DUQUETTE CARD STOP FOR TEXTILE MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 OriginglFiled June 10. 1957 A. DUQUETTE CARD STOP FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Sept. 10,1963 Original Filed June 10'. 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. ue zeAlbeftDa @WW Sept. 10, 1963 A. DUQUETTE 3,103,040

CARD STOP FOR TEXTILE MACHINES 5315f? v1963 DUQUETTE 3,103,040

i CARD STOPFOR TEXTILE MACHINES Original Filed June 10. 1957 5Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

A lbert Dagueiie United States Patent 3,103,040 CARD STOP FUR TEXTILEMACHINES Albert Dnquette, 128 /2 Clinton Ave, Waterville, MaineContinuation of application Ser. No. 664,566, June It 1957. Thisapplication Mar. 28, 1962, Ser. No. 186,815 12 Claims. (Cl. 19.2)

This invention relates to textile machines and more particularly towoolen carding machines and is a continuation of my co-pendingapplication, Serial No. 664,566, filed June 10, 1957.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a safety device forinstallation on woolen carding machines to stop the machinesautomatically when the card web breaks.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automaticsafety device for preventing plug-ups at the first breaker of suchwoolen carding machines, reduce waste, and improve production thereof.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a safety deviceof the above type having guide means for directing the web into thedraw'means of a carding machine and into association with a sensingmechanism for detecting a completely broken web.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a safetydevice for woolen carding machines in which the sensing device is'adjustably supported for pivotal movement between a running and astopping position, so that in response to the detection of a broken web,the sensing device will automatically deenergize the drive mechanism ofthe carding machine, thereby minimizing loss of time and material.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a safety device forcarding machines bearing the above objects in mind which is of simpleconstruction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive tomanufacture and efficient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention,reference may be had to the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGUREl is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on lines 1-1 ofFIGURE 2 showing a safety device made in accordance with the presentinvention, in operative use, adjacent end portions of roll 24 beingshown therein to more clearly illustrate the driving arrangement; 7

FIGURE 2 is a right-hand side elevational view of the device shown inFIGURE 1, or front view;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, showing the left hand sideelevation of FIGURE 1, or front view of a control arm being shown in oneof two inoperative positions;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the device shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken along lines 55 ofFIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 66 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is a partial elevational view of the sensing device as shown inFIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along the line 88 ofFIGURE 7.

As is well known whendealing with woolen carding machines, variousgrades of Wool are blended together ahead of the first card breakersection. This blend is known as stock. As the stock progresses along inthe carding machine it is continuously being drawn, and therefore thestock is often called drawing. This drawing has the form of a web as itpasses from one card section to the next. At times the stock is fed toomeagerly to the first card breaker section causing a very thin webwhich"ice will break at the center draw intermediate section, therebystopping the carding machine when the sensing mechanism, in accordancewith the invention, fails to be held vertically by the web, and falls toposition 45a, FIGURE 3. To be operative, the sensing mechanismmustfpivot and the weight of the control arm above the pivot point mustbe greater than the counter-weight 48. Also, in normal operation, theend of the control arm comprising the stock engaging arms must belocated above the pivot point and the end consisting of thecounter-weight must be located below the pivot point.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, the safety device made inaccordance with the present invention is shown in operative associationbeing located between the first card breaker section and the second cardbreaker section at the discharge of the center draw intermediate :feedoverhead conveyor of a woolen carding machine,

' the web 14 thereof passing into operative association with the safetyapparatus.

This device includes a base or front end stand 15 that may be secured,such as by screws or bolts, to the carrier of the overhead conveyor. Atie rod 17 is also attached to the overhead conveyor to maintain aconstant distance between the conveyor and the draw rolls 24 and 25thereby keeping the web 14 under constant tension. An upwardly extendingstandard 19 is integral at its lower end with the base 15 and isprovided with an upper bearing bracket 2% at its upper end. This bracket20 supports a pair of transversely extending rods 22 which, at theopposite ends, support a similar bearing bracket 23. As is shown inFIGURE 6, the brackets 20, 23 rotatably support a pair of draw rolls 24,25, one of which is a driving roll 24- and the other of which 25 isdriven thereby. As is more clearly shown in FIGURE 2, a tension device28 is secured to the bearings at each end of the draw roll 25 normallyurging the roll 25 toward the roll 24 by a tension spring 26, so as topositively engage the web 14 drawn therebetween. I

As is shown in FIGURES 4 and 6, the stud 27 supports a belt tensiom'ngarm 32 which, in turn, supports a lower tension belt arm 29 that isprovided with an elongated slot 30. A bolt and nut 31 carried by theupper arm 32 extends through the slot 30 for securing the lower arm inan adjusted position relative thereto. The lower extremity of the lowerarm 29 is provided with a pulley 33 around which a belt 34 is trainedfor engagement with an upper pulley 35 secured to the shaft 36 of thedriving roller 24. The belt 34 constitutes the driving means for theroll 24.

The brackets 20, 23 also support arcutate rods 42 that support stockguides 40 by means of brackets 41. These stock guides 4d direct the web14 through the gap between the dnaw rolls, then to the sensing devicetherebelow for detecting a complete break of the'stock or drawing.

The sensing mechanism includes a control arm 45 that has a substantiallycentrally located pivoting support 46 which is rotatably supported uponthe vertical standard 19. The lower end of the control arm 45 is in theform of :a threaded stud 49 upon which a counter-weight 48 is slidablysupported. Upper and lower lock nuts 47 provide adjustment means forlocating the counter-weight 48 at any desired position along the lengthof the threaded stud 49. The opposite upper end of the control arm- 45is provided with a guide arm mounting bracket 50 to which a pair ofstock engaging arms 51 are secured. As is clearly shown in FIGURE 8, theupper surface of the bracket 50 is provided with spaced depressions 53which receive the rods 52 that are secured to the stock engaging arms 51and are adjustably secured thereto by nuts and bolts 54 together withcompression springs 55 which yieldably hold the rods 52 in theirdepressions but permit them to be swung apart. These springs 55 toleratea certain amount of movement of the arms 51 without interfering with thealignment of thecontrol arm relative to the base of the device.

With reference to FIGURE 1, it will be noted that a retractable lockplunger 57 is supported upon the vertical standard -19 and includes apin 58 for reciprocating engagement with the control arm 45. This pinprovides means for supporting the control arm assembly in the verticalposition during assembly and adjustment, but is retracted out ofengagement therewith during the normal use of the apparatus. The arm 45is connected by means of the pivoting support 46 to an electrical switch60 that has leads 61 which are associated with the drive mechanism ofthe carding machine. The switch 60 is so adjusted that upon rotation ofthe control arm 45 to one of two inoperative positions 45a, as shown inFIGURES 3 or 5, the electrical supply circuit to the drive mechanismwillbe opened, thereby stopping the operation of the machine.

With the safety mechanism arranged for use on the carding machine, asshown in FIGURE 1, the plunger 57 is withdrawn so as to retract thelocking pin 58, whereupon the web 14 is operative to retain the controlarm 45 in an upright position through engagement with the stock engagingarms 51. In the event that the web 14 is broken completely, the controlarm 45 and its connected stock engaging arms 51 being heavier than thecounter balancing effect of theweight 48, will fall to one side or theother of the pivot point as shown in FIGURES 3 or 5, turning aprojecting shaft in the switch so, actuating the switch. The pivot 46Aof the pivoting support 46 is the projecting shaft of the switch 60.When this rotation has passed a predetermined point in either direction,the switch will be opened, cutting off the electrical power leading tothe driving mechanism of the entire carding machine, stopping the entirecarding machine.

The broken web may then be examined, after which it may be passedthrough the safety device, whereupon the operation of the cardingmachine may be resumed.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shallbe understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope ofthepresent invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A safety device for a woolen card textile machine comprising, incombination, a base, an upwardly extending standard secured to saidbase, stock guide means supported by said standard, stock draw meanssupported by said standard adjacent and beneath the said stock guidemeans, drive means for actuating said stock draw means, anelectricalswitch mounted upon said standard having leads associated withthe drive mechanism of said machine, and sensing means, said sensingmeans carried beneath said stock guide means and stock draw means fordetecting a completely broken web passing through said stock guide meansand stock draw means, said sensing means comprising a control armextending upwardly and provided with a support intermediate its endspivotally mounted upon said standard, one end of said control armlocated above the said pivotal support being disposed in the path ofmovement of said web, and the opposite end located beneath the saidpivotal support including a counterweight, the uppermost end of saidcontrol arm comprising of a pair of stock engaging arms for engagementby said web for maintaining said control arm in a substantially erectposition during normal operation, and said uppermost end of said controlarm being heavier than the lowermost end thereof to rotate to one sideor the other of the pivotal support upon breakage of the web, themovement of said control arm about said pivotal support actuating saidswitch to stop said machine driving mechanism.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said stock draw meanscomprises a pair of friction drive rolls for receiving the stock webtherebetween and for moving r 4 said stock web toward said stockengaging arms of said control arm.

3. The combination according to claim 2, wherein said drive meanscomprises a pulley secured to one of said rolls, and a belt foreffecting rotation of said pulley.

4. The combination according to claim 3, wherein said friction driverolls are in meshing engagement with each other.

5. The combination according to claim 4, wherein one of said frictiondrive rolls comprises spring means for drawing said rolls towardengagement with each other.

6. The combination according to claim 5, further comprising belttightening means for adjusting the tension of said drive belt.

7. A safety device for a woolen card textile machine comprising, incombination, a base, an upwardly extending standard secured to saidbase, stock guide means supported upon said standard, stock draw meanssupported by said standard adjacent and beneath the said stock guidemeans, drive means for actuating said stock draw means, an' electricalswitch mounted upon said standard having leads associated with the drivemechanism of said machine, a rotating shaft in said switch andprojecting outwardly therefrom, and sensing means, said sensing meanscarried beneath said stock guide means and stock draw means fordetecting a completely broken web passing through said stock guide meansand stock draw means, said sensing means comprising a control armextending upwardly and provided with a support intermediate its endspivotally mounted upon said standard, one end of said control armlocated above the said pivotal support being disposed in the path ofmovement of said web, and the opposite end located beneath the saidpivotal support including a counter-weight, the uppermost end of saidcontrol arm comprising a pair of stock engaging arms for engagement bysaid web for maintaining said control arm in a substantially erectposition during normal operation, and said uppermost end of said controlarm being heavier than the lowermost end therof to rotate to one side orthe other of the pivotal support upon breakage of the web, the movementof said control arm about said pivotal support rotating said projectingshaft in said switch and actuating said switch to stop said machinedriving mechanism.

8. A safety device for a woolen card textile machine comprising, incombination, a base, an upwardly extending standard secured to saidbase, stock guide means supported upon said standard, stock draw mean-ssupported by said standard adjacent and beneath the said stock guidemeans, drive means for actuating said stock draw means, an electricalswitch mounted upon said standard having leads associated with the drivemechanism of said machine, and sensing means, said sensing means carriedbeneath said stock guide means and stock draw means for detecting acompletely broken web passing through said stock guide means and stockdraw means, said sensing means comprising a control arm extendingupwardly and provided with a support inter-mediateits ends pivotallymounted upon said standard, one end of said control arm located abovethe said pivotal support being disposed in the path of movement of saidweb, and the opposite end located beneath the said pivotal supportincluding an adjustable balance means, said balance means comprising acounterweight, and screw means for adjusting the position of saidcounter-weight relative to said pivotal support, the uppermost end ofsaid control arm comprising a pair of stock engaging arms fiorengagement by said web for maintaining said control in a substantiallyerect position during normal operation, and said uppermost end of saidcontrol arm being heavier than the effect of said balance means torotate to one side or otal support actuating said switch to stop saidmachine driving mechanism.

9. A safety device for a woolen card textile machine comprising, incombination, a base, an upwardly extending standard secured to saidbase, stock guide means supported upon said standard, stock draw meanssupported by said standard adjacent and beneath the said stock guidemeans, drive means for actuating said stock draw means, an electricalswitch mounted upon said standard having leads associated with the drivemechanism of said machine, a rotating shait in said switch andprojecting outwardly therefrom, :and sensing means, said sensing meanscarried beneath said stock guide means and stock draw means fordetecting a completely broken web passing through said stock guide meansand stock draw means, said sensing means comprising a control armextending upwardly and provided with a support intermediate its endspivotally mounted upon said standard, one end of said control 'armlocated above the said pivotal support being disposed in the path ofmovement of said web, and the opposite end located beneath the saidpivotal support including an adjustable balance means, said balancemeans comprising a counter-weight, and screw means for adjusting theposition of said counter- Weight relative to said pivotal support, theuppermost end of said control :arm comprising a pair of stock engagingarms for embracing said web for maintaining said oontrolarm in asubstantially erect position during normal operation, and said uppermostend of said control arm being heavier than the eifect of said balancemeans to rotate to one side or the other of the pivotal support uponbreakage of the Web, the movement of said control arm about said pivotalsupport rotating said projecting shaft in said switch, actuating saidswitch which opens an electrical supply circuit to said machine drivingmechanism thereby stopping all action thereof.

10. A safety device for 1a Woolen card textile machine comprising, incombination, a base, an upwardly extending standard secured to saidbase, stock guide means supported by said standard, stock draw meanssupported by said standard adjacent and beneath the said stock guidemeans, drive means for actuating said stock draw means, an electricalswitch mounted upon said standard having leads associated with the drivemechanism of said machine, and sensing means, said sensing means carriedbeneath said stock guide means and stock draw means for detecting acompletely broken web passing through said stock guide means and stockdraw means, said sensing means comprising a control arm extendingupwardly and provided with a support intermediate its ends pivotallymounted upon said standard, one end of said control am located above thesaid pivotal support and including a pair of transverse, horizontallyspaced members disposed to straddle the path of movement of said web,and the opposite end located beneath the said pivotal support includinga counter-weight, the uppermost end of said contnol arm furthercomprising a pair of stock engaging arms secured to said. members forengagement by said web for maintaining said control arm in asubstantially erect position during normal operation, and said uppermostend of said control arm being heavier than the lowermost end thereof torotate to one side or the other of the pivotal support upon breakage ofthe web, the movement of said control arm about said pivotal supportactuating said switch which opens to stop said machine drivingmechanism.

11. The safety device of claim 10 in which there is a resilientconnection between one end of the Web-straddling members and theuppermost end of the control arm.

12. The safety device of claim 10 in which there is a bracket at theupper end of the control arm having parallel recesses, and each of theweb-straddling members includes a rod resiliently clamped in arespective one of said recesses.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS628,493 Russell July 11, 1899 649,366 Scott et a1. May 8, 1900 706,261Scott Aug. 5, 1902 1,948,634 Ross et a1 Feb. 27, 1934

1. A SAFETY DEVICE FOR A WOOLEN CARD TEXTILE MACHINE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A BASE, AN UPWARDLY EXTENDING STANDARD SECURED TO SAID BASE, STOCK GUIDE MEANS SUPPORTED BY SAID STANDARD, STOCK DRAW MEANS SUPPORTED BY SAID STANDARD ADJACENT AND BENEATH THE SAID STOCK GUIDE MEANS, DRIVE MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID STOCK DRAW MEANS, AN ELECTRICAL SWITCH MOUNTED UPON SAID STANDARD HAVING LEADS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DRIVE MECHANISM OF SAID MACHINE, AND SENSING MEANS, SAID SENSING MEANS CARRIED BENEATH SAID STOCK GUIDE MEANS AND STOCK DRAW MEANS FOR DETECTING A COMPLETELY BROKEN WEB PASSING THROUGH SAID STOCK GUIDE MEANS AND STOCK DRAW MEANS, SAID SENSING MEANS COMPRISING A CONTROL ARM EXTENDING UPWARDLY AND PROVIDED WITH A SUPPORT INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED UPON SAID STANDARD, ONE END OF SAID CONTROL ARM LOCATED ABOVE THE SAID PIVOTAL SUPPORT BEING DISPOSED IN THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID WEB, AND THE OPPOSITE END LOCATED BENEATH THE SAID PIVOTAL SUPPORT INCLUDING A COUNTERWEIGHT, THE UPPERMOST END OF SAID CONTROL ARM COMPRISING OF A PAIR OF STOCK ENGAGING ARMS FOR ENGAGEMENT BY SAID WEB FOR MAINTAINING SAID CONTROL ARM IN A SUBSTANTIALLY ERECT POSITION DURING NORMAL OPERATION, AND SAID UPPERMOST END OF SAID CONTROL ARM BEING HEAVIER THAN THE LOWERMOST END THEREOF TO ROTATE TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER OF THE PIVOTAL SUPPORT UPON BREAKAGE OF THE WEB, THE MOVEMENT OF SAID CONTROL ARM ABOUT SAID PIVOTAL SUPPORT ACTUATING SAID SWITCH TO STOP SAID MACHINE DRIVING MECHANISM. 